4 Idioms to Not Say on the IELTS Speaking Exam

The video tutorial emphasizes the importance of expressing oneself like a native speaker by using modern slang and idioms. It advises against using outdated or overused idioms such as 'costs an arm and a leg', 'feel blue', 'burning the midnight oil', and 'piece of cake'. Instead, it suggests using more contemporary expressions like 'pricey', 'bummed', 'pulled an all-nighter', and 'a cinch'. The tutorial encourages learners to select a few phrases they are comfortable with and practice them to enhance their speaking skills.

Why is it important to express yourself like a native speaker?

• To achieve higher band scores in speaking exams

• To improve your writing skills

• To sound more formal

• To learn more vocabulary

Which phrase is suggested as a modern alternative to 'costs an arm and a leg'?

• A piece of cake

• Burning the midnight oil

• A splurge

• Feeling blue

What is a contemporary way to express feeling sad instead of saying 'feel blue'?

• A piece of cake

• Costs an arm and a leg

• Burning the midnight oil

• In a funk

What is a modern expression for working late at night?

• Feeling blue

• Burning the midnight oil

• Pulling an all-nighter

• A piece of cake

Which phrase is recommended instead of saying something was 'a piece of cake'?

• In a funk

• A splurge

• Pulling an all-nighter

• A cinch